Torture victim to receive Sh9.7m, finally

The Ombudsman has compelled the Interior ministry to release Sh9.7 million by way of compensation to a victim of police torture.

Commission on Administrative Justice chairman Otiende Amollo revealed yesterday that Lisa Catherine Wangari, who won the compensation following inhuman treatment by police officers in June 2001, will finally receive her payment.

Ms Wangari was stripped naked by police officers, flogged and sexually molested more than a decade ago.

She filed a case for compensation at the High Court in Embu where a decision was made in her favour on November 29, 2010.

However, despite serving the Interior ministry with the court order, no payment was made, prompting her to lodge a complaint with the commission.

“We understand that there might be some delays in Government institutions, but when the delays become unreasonable, we are forced to step in to find out who is not doing their work.Our role is to fight maladministration within the Government,” said Mr Amollo yesterday.

Ministry compelled

The Ombudsman decided to move to court to compel the ministryto pay Wangari after it failed to release the money as requested by Amollo’s office.

“When we sought explanations from the Ministry of Interior regarding the unreasonable delays, we received answers that we didn’t find to be satisfactory. So we moved to court to compel them to make the payment,” he said.